LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 9, 2009

TO:	Honorable Mark Homer, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2642 by Kent (relating to a program to designate historic roads and highways in this state.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish a program to identify, designate, interpret, and market Texas historic roads and highways. The bill would authorize TxDOT and THC to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement for the project.

Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed the agency would incur costs for consultant services, the design and installation of highway signs, and development and production of brochures for promotion purposes. The total costs would depend on the number and length of highways and roads that would be identified and designated as historic roads under the proposed program. TxDOT indicates that the availability of federal highway enhancement funds for this purpose are limited. Therefore, it is assumed TxDOT would accommodate any costs associated with the implementation of the bill through the reallocation of existing State Highway Fund appropriations for transportation planning and maintenance.

Based on the analysis of THC, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

601 Department of Transportation, 808 Historical Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, TG, WK